Mandatory disability training will arrive for all taxi and PHV drivers… but only when time allows

The Government remains committed to mandatory disability equality training for taxi and private hire vehicle (PHV) drivers, but only ‘when parliamentary time allows’.

Kirsten Oswald, the Shadow SNP Spokesperson for Women and Equalities, raised the question to the Secretary of State for Transport regarding the 2019 Government Response Report of the Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle Licensing. Specifically, she asked about the plans to introduce mandatory disability equality training for taxi and private hire vehicle drivers.

In response, Richard Holden, the Parliamentary Under-Secretary for the Department of Transport, stated that the Government remains committed to requiring disability awareness training for drivers, but only when Parliamentary time allows. He further clarified that in 2022, the department consulted on updated best practice guidance for taxi and private hire vehicle licensing authorities, which includes a recommendation for drivers to complete such training. The response and the final guidance will be published in due course.

Holden said: “In the 2019 response to the report of the Chair of the Task and Finish Group on Taxi and Private Hire Vehicle (PHV) licensing, the government committed to require the completion of disability awareness training by drivers when Parliamentary time allowed. This remains our position.

“In the meantime, in 2022 we consulted on updated best practice guidance for taxi and PHV licensing authorities, including a recommendation that drivers are required to complete such training. The consultation response and substantive guidance will be published in due course.”

The question submitted by Kirsten Oswald is seen to highlight the continued importance placed on disability equality in the taxi and private hire vehicle industry.